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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

NQR (Not Quite Right)

Do you remember that I had very exciting plans for this lovely woollen jumper from the oppy?

I thought it would be best to give it a hot wash before I tried to cut it, just to make absolutely sure that it had been properly felted (or fulled). I've never used the hot wash cycle on my front loader, so I cranked the dial up to 90 degrees, added some detergent (not sure whether I should have or not), and let it run through a cycle.

33 comments:

Oh dear... you know as I was reading this post and got to the bit where you washed it I thought "this could turn out badly" and then I saw the picture----- I did smile--- I'm sorry----- Well, maybe someone really small could wear it--- or you could make sure it is felted properly and turn it into a bag, or some brooches, or both??

PMSL! Can't stop myself pointing and laughing. I was expecting the 'after' photo to be your jumper covered in sludge - that's what happened to my clothes when I used a hot wash for the first time ever. Dirty unused pipes.

Looks pretty well felted to me...I did not laugh cause with the 90º I kinda new what was coming..but you can still make something very lovely from this beautiful hue...hope you didn't plan to wear this today...but now we all know how to felt things in the washer..

I remember a purple fisherman's rib jumper that I once had. (Must've been around 1986 or 7?) Always hand-washed it. I stayed at my auntie's house and it got washed. Honestly, this previously huge, over-sized jumper shrank to something only little more than the size of an A4 sheet of paper.

Oh Cam, as soon as I read "Do you remember....", I was worried. I'm sorry that I laughed but it was definately with you, and not at you! I guess it's a lesson learnt and there are some great suggestions for how you can still use the jumper. Maybe you can combine it with another Oppy find and still make something for yourself??

Oh dear...Well we will all learn not to crank up to 90 degrees If we want a gentle felting effect;)I am sure it is not all lost,maybe it has to have a plan B?Things are not clicking for me eather and will have to have a plan B too ;)Good luck Cam;) xx

My frontloader felts everything wool I put into it - really well! Like too well! Which is okay if I want something felted to do craft with, but not okay when it's my best jumper. It's a running joke in my house that if I have anything wool it's gonna end up in the craft pile!

Detergent helps the felting process, sorry! Maybe if the sleeves haven't shrunk too much you can cut it up and turn it into a cardigan/bolero for the new spring weather? It's a gorgeous colour and would look so good over a summer cotton dress!

Sorry but I was laughing before I even finished the first sentence! Oh well, its all a learning experience. Thanks for sharing the failures and succeses. There wouldn't be much fun in it if it all turned out perfectly every time.

ooops! it's felted now!whether you had used soap or not wouldn't have mattered. Unfortunately I think the 90 degrees did it :(Any small people in your life that you could make this into a cardi for one of them? :)

I'm working on a patchwork blanket right now with felted sweaters and to be honest I wish I'd had your shrinking luck with one of the sweaters I'm using...the thing is 100% lambs wool and WON'T felt for anything!

I do this all the time - but on purpose - this is what I would do - cut off the arms as long as you can get them and try them on, create some great fingerless gloves. If the sleeves are too wide, turn inside out and sew up the seam to make them more narrow and form fitting, then cut a hole for the thumb (check my store for photos if you need a visual)With the body of the sweater you could make a purse, pillow, brooches, a cute stuffie - the possibilties are endless. Turn this negative into a positive.All the best!!